Driver Gets 6 Months in Crash that Killed Friend

By Sam Thrift Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Anna Grace Stuckey was sentenced to six months in jail for involuntary manslaughter yesterday in Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court for a single-vehicle accident in December 2009 that left 25-year-old sailor Zachery Romena dead.

Stuckey, a 22-year-old Norfolk resident, had alcohol in her system when she lost control of her car on Barnes Road in James City County. The prosecution and the defense both brought expert witnesses before Judge Samuel Powell III during her trial Oct. 5 to explain whether Stuckey, who was 20 at the time of the accident, was legally intoxicated. Read about her trial by clicking here.

After consuming two beers at a party in Richmond, the defendant was driving Romena and a friend back to Norfolk – where they were stationed in the Navy - when they realized they needed gas. They used their GPS to search for the nearest gas station, which led them off Interstate 64 to the winding and unlit Barnes Road in Toano.

The defense claimed the lack of streetlights on the unmarked road and the placement of warning signs contributed to the defendant’s car spinning out of control into a tree stump, killing Romena instantly and seriously injuring Stuckey.

Judge Powell found Stuckey guilty of involuntary manslaughter and driving too fast for highway conditions, but dismissed charges of DUI and aggravated involuntary manslaughter because he felt there wasn’t enough evidence to prove she had a BAC of .08 percent or greater.

“The hardest part is losing my friend,” Stuckey said to Judge Powell before being sentenced. “I wish I could go back, but I am completely confident that I will not make a mistake like that again.”

Powell sentenced Stuckey to five years in prison with four years and six months suspended unless she breaks the rules of her probation.

“Your lawyer said you were perfect except for this night, but this night did happen,” Powell said. “I want this sentence to be a deterrent; not just to you but to others who see this and can see the consequences.”